My name is Tyler Rector, and I am a biomedical sciences student with a strong interest in translational and molecular research. I am motivated by work that connects experimental discovery to real-world biomedical and clinical applications.
Post-graduation professional goals:
After graduation, I plan to pursue an MD-PhD with the goal of integrating clinical practice with biomedical research. Long-term, I hope to build a research-oriented clinical career focused on translating scientific discoveries into improved diagnostic methods and therapeutic strategies, particularly in areas related to human disease and molecular medicine.
Internship description:
During my internship in the Brachova–Alvarez Laboratory at Eastern Virginia Medical School, I contributed to a project investigating how mitochondrial stress influences gene expression and alternative splicing in ovarian tissue. My responsibilities included preparing and analyzing ovarian tissue samples, optimizing staining procedures, assisting with experimental workflows, and supporting data collection and interpretation. Through this work, I gained exposure to molecular and cellular research techniques and learned how laboratory research is conducted in an academic biomedical setting.
Reflection:
Completing this internship significantly strengthened both my technical laboratory abilities and my understanding of the research process. I developed hands-on experience with tissue preparation, staining optimization, microscopy-based structural analysis, and maintaining consistency across experimental procedures. I also learned the importance of careful documentation, troubleshooting protocols, and adapting methods when experiments did not initially produce expected results.
Beyond technical skills, the internship improved my ability to think critically about experimental design and scientific interpretation. Working in a collaborative research environment helped me better understand how individual experiments contribute to larger scientific questions and reinforced the importance of communication, teamwork, and attention to detail in biomedical research. Overall, this experience confirmed my interest in pursuing a career that combines medicine and scientific investigation, and it provided valuable insight into the daily responsibilities and challenges of translational research.
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